Major George W. Steele, from Indiana, was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to serve as the first governor of Oklahoma Territory.
The first legislature of the Oklahoma Territory met in Guthrie in 1890-1891.
The Oklahoma Territory Organic Act
Stop 17: 200 N Walker Ave
On May 2, 1890, Congress passed long awaited legislation establishing federally sanctioned territorial government for Oklahoma.
The Organic Act defined Oklahoma Territory boundaries to include the lands west of Indian Territory and the panhandle north of Texas known as No Man's Land. The Unassigned Lands were divided into six numbered counties, with Oklahoma City as the seat of government in county #2. As the federal government acquired Indian land and opened it for settlement, the land would be included in Oklahoma Territory. Rules were established for the election of territorial and local officials. The laws of Nebraska were applied to Oklahoma Territory until the new legislature could adopt its own.
Thirteen months after the Run of '89, residents of Oklahoma City had a federal framework for government. The long period of ad-hoc governance and political instability was over.